Hmmmm...what to tell you about Beijing. This vast, historical, and polluted city holds both my best and worst memories from our trip.Best: climbing the great wall at the turning of the 2010 new year :)
Worst: stuck in the worst blizzard in Beijing in 60 years unable to leave the country :(
The pic to the right is the Temple of Heaven. It was the first sight that Caroline and I visited. It was soooooooo cold! Beijing basically felt like Iowa with less heated buildings. All the cool sights were outside, so we spent every day outside in temps in the single digits or teens. Not my favorite way to go sight seeing. The temple of heaven was fun despite the cold. Caroline and I made the best of things and took some fun pics. I am so glad she was with us!
This is Caroline and I at the Forbidden City. We were so cold (is there an echo in here)!! We couldn't stand to have our faces exposed to the open air.
This pic is from the Forbidden City. I just like all the zig-zag lines in the picture.On this part of the trip we got to see a jade factory, a silk factory, and the pearl market. I enjoyed the pearl market because I was able to purchase a Tahitian black pearl as a birthday present. I call it "My Precious." We also got to visit with some friends from Texas that were in Beijing with Lets Start Talking. It was nice to see friendly familiar faces.
And now here are some pics from my favorite part of our China trip...The Great Wall of China.
On our way up to The Great Wall in a "lift" that was "made in China." Thus my nervous smile. I wonder how much lead is in the paint?And now here are some pics from my favorite part of our China trip...The Great Wall of China.
New Year's kiss on The Great Wall of China
Caroline, Me and Scott
Some places on the wall were really steep :)
All of The Great Wall of China pics are Caroline's. Hers were far superior to mine.
The day after these pictures were taken we were scheduled to go our separate ways, Caroline back to the states, and Scott and I to Vietnam. However, Beijing was hit with their worst blizzard in 60 years, and Scott and I did not get out of Beijing that day. We missed Vietnam completely, our travel agent worked some magic for us, and we left Beijing two days later for Adelaide, Australia.
(BTW, Caroline did make it out of Beijing on her original flight date, however, it was about 10:30 at night.)
The day after these pictures were taken we were scheduled to go our separate ways, Caroline back to the states, and Scott and I to Vietnam. However, Beijing was hit with their worst blizzard in 60 years, and Scott and I did not get out of Beijing that day. We missed Vietnam completely, our travel agent worked some magic for us, and we left Beijing two days later for Adelaide, Australia.
(BTW, Caroline did make it out of Beijing on her original flight date, however, it was about 10:30 at night.)
